Plans to replace the Victoria Leisure Centre in Sneinton, Nottingham, with a new £9m facility have been given the final approval by central government.

The plans were given the greenlight by Nottingham City Council in June, but as the building is located within a conservation area and is owned by the council, the plans required the approval of Eric Pickles, the secretary of state for Communities and Local Government.

Designs for the complex have been drawn up by London-based architects Levitate and form part of a wider £32m council-led scheme to upgrade leisure provision across Nottingham.

Plans for the new Victoria Leisure Centre boast a six-lane, 25m swimming pool with separate children's pool and fun splash play area, a new café and retail space and fitness and health suites.

The proposed new centre has also been designed to complement efforts to revitalise the Sneinton Square area, which aims to improve links between the city centre and surrounding neighbourhoods.

The decision will bring to an end the efforts of the Save Victoria Baths pressure group, which was seeking to have the council's decision to redevelop the baths overturned.